The sense of touch is so critical to daily functioning. Everything from balance and grip is modulated with an intricate ensemble of signals from various touch receptors in our body. With current amputation, these sensors are all destroyed, leaving patients to struggle with simple tasks like buttoning a shirt or climbing rough terrain .
Coming soon is the Cutaneous Mechanoneural Interface, a new composite tissue that is surgically connected to a skin flap in the residual limb and activated through an electrical stimulation system. The interface generates and transmits nerve signals that represent touch and vibratory sensation.